Forms splicing machine



March 18, 1958 w. H. RIVES FORMS SPLICING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WMM JKM/4 M ATTORNEY March 18, 1958 w. H. RIVES 2,327,104

` FORMS SPLICING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVETOR.

20V r yfwm WMM/f7 United FRMS SPLICING MACHINE Application August 9, 1956, Serial No. 602,969 13 Claims. (Cl. 154-423) This invention relates to machines of the type for splicing two sheets of material together by applying a strip of adhesive tape thereto.

Although machines of this general type are broadly old, the objectives of this invention are to provide improvements and renements in certain constructions of the devices of this nature including the provision of means for automatically severing the proper length or strip of tape and performing such severing operation in timed relation to the splicing operation itself, means for presetting the severing means during the initial stage of the cycle of splicing operation and means for locating and pretensioning the sheets which are to be spliced, and including a device for holding the sheets down to ensure their engagement by the locating means in opposition to the pull of the splicing tape against the sheets during the splicing operation.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the splicing machine and showing the relationship of parts during a splicing operation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along the plane of section line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the upper pivot showing details of the knife releasing mechanism;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevational view or" the lower portion of the carriage showing the relative positions of the support roller and serving knife;

Figure 6 is a partial section similar to Figure 2 but showing the position of parts near the end of a severing operation; and

Figure 7 is a plan view showing the presser foot in position holding down the sheets being spliced.

Referring now to Figure l, reference character 10 indicates the base or table which supports the sheets to be spliced and which is preferably provided with suitable feet or standards 11 for supporting the base in elevated position to provide clearance for those portions of the device which project below the base. Pivotally mounted atone end of the base is a supporting and guiding arm 12 and pivoted to the upper end of this arm is the carriage assembly 13, the arm and carriage roughly describing an inverted V.

The base also supports a vertical guide or cam plate 14I adjacent arm 12 as well as a presser foot assembly 15 (Figures 1 and 7). Two rows of locating pins or studs 16'and 17 are arranged across the table in parallel rows spaced apart approximately the same distance as are the two rows 18a and 18h of marginal holes along the sides of the two form sheets 19 and 20 which are to be spliced, see particularly Figures 2, 6 and 7.

The pins 16 are rigidly xed to the base whereas the pins 17 are Xed to a plate 21 supported horizontally below'base 1t? and project upwardly through holes in the base 10. Plate 21 is pivotally supported upon a U-shaped bracket 22 secured to the under face of base 10, by a pair of pins 23 extending from the ends of the plate,

tes Fatent near its rear or inner edge, through bearing holes in the ends of the arms ot bracket 22. Plate 21 is provided with a depending lever arm 24 near its middle, and a tension spring 25 is connected between the lower end of this arm and the bracket 22 to normally bias the plate 21 and pins 17 such that the upper ends of the latter, which project through oversize holes in the base, will normally assume a position spaced from fixed pins 16 a distance slightly greater than the spacing between the opposite marginal holes 18a and 18b of sheets 19 and 20. Thus, when the two sheets are engaged over the pins, they will be under slight tension from spring 25, tending to smooth and atten the sheets in a transverse direction.

The guide arm 12 has a cross-head 26 the opposite ends of which are provided with bearings receiving pivot pins 27 and 28 which are threaded through upstanding leg portions 29 and 38 of a pair of L-shaped brackets 31 and 32 which are fixed to opposite edge portions of the table or base 10. Pins 27 and 28 are provided with lock nuts 33 and 34 to hold them in correct adjusted position.

Figures l, 3 and 4 illustrate the upper end construction of the guide arm and the manner for pivotally attaching the carriage thereto. A split-ring clamp 35 is clamped on the guide arm 12 near its upper end by means of the clamp bolt 36 and rigid with this clamp ring are a pair of parallel arms 37 and 38 which extend at an angle to arm 12 and straddle a cross-bar member 39 attached to the upper end portion of a tubular rod 40 which forms part of the carriage assembly 13 and interposed between the opposite ends of this cross-bar and the arms 37 and 38 are the terminal portions 41 and 42 of a U-shaped latch release carrier designated generally by the reference character 3. The rod 40 is pivotally connected to the arm 12 by a pair of pivot pins 44a and 44b threaded through the arms 37 and 3S, passing through holes in arms 41 and 42 and entering bearing sockets in the ends of cross-bar 39. This provides a pivotal connection between the upper end of the guide arm 12 and the carriage assembly 13.

An adjusting strap 47 has one end thereof secured to the clamp ring 35 by the bolt 36 and extends therefrom alongside the latch release carrier 43 which carries a clamping screw 48 engaged through an elongate slot 49 in the strap so as to adjust the ultimate position of the latch release carrier 43, for a purpose which will become presently apparent.

The carriage 13 consists essentially of a side wall plate 50 which is rigidly axed to the tubular rod 40 and which is provided with a laterally projecting flange 51 dening a compartment for enclosing the various v parts of the carriage, it being understood that a suitable cover plate (not shown) is to be arranged parallel to but spaced from the side wall 5@ and being removably attached to the outer edge of the llange 51. Mounted on the plate 50 is a reel 52 for carrying a standard roll 53 of conventional adhesive type splicing tape. The carrier also includes a suitable handle such as the T-shaped handle S4 for manipulation of the carriage, as will be described below.

Secured to ilange 51 at the lower portion of plate 56 is Y a mounting plate 55 arranged parallel with but spaced from plate 50, see particularly Figures l and 2. A pair of stud members 56 and 57 extend out from the rear face of plate 55 and form mounts for spring fingers 5S and 59 respectively, the construction of which is shown in Figures l, 2 and 5. As shown in Figure l leaf spring S9 extends downwardly and rearwardly from stud 57 to a point beyond the end of spring 58 and serves to press the adhesive tape against the forms to be spliced. As shown in Figure 5, leaf spring S8 is bifurcated to present the spaced leg portions 58a and 5811 which engage the under surfaces Patented Mar. 18, 1958l legsfssarandg 5817 willlightly engage; this tape against the;1 v15 undersurfacetofgtheapplyngsprng-Sfan Mathias serve: toY hold :theztape ingpositiom-readyforlusee, Eorttpreventfc ingrglateral movement of thetaperomrbjetween theingerse. spfllg 5.9 tis t notched onge ppositeledges near eitszflowe'r; end;

seefigure 5 and;narrowg--endiportions 58a? andv558bf: of`V 10 fingers Srand58b.;are;turned:orgbent intoethesenotches,l

astshowningFigureil'L i Y te Integral twith Ithe mounting plate 55sv-asdependinglega2 portion;63 .locatedttoathefrearfof springeSt andisupporting;

resilient :materialis .journalexA uponeonetend-,portion@ ofi? the axle shaft 64 which projects from one sidel-ofzarm 63'.: Tlezoppositefendf shaft' 64;- serve's :to guide the;z move-` ment of zcarriagef; 13'; in a: mannerl described lbelow: A?.VV 20 screw A--tdaf retains.'v roller'-4 65. on. shaftl 64., Y

Also mounted onthefsupportingaplate 55is a spring:-

g biased knifel assembly`r including the generally -sector shapedilever farm. 67fpivotedat itsapex to the mounting plate 55.t by` screvwf; and! carrying; theek-nite-E blade 69f-V extendinglslaterallytffrom; its-curvedf'edge portion, the knife "blade being providedi with a -curved cutting edge,A asm/ill befseenimostclearly lin yFiguresvl;'Ziantl 62.5 knife-:blade t69= is'tsecuredttothe arm-671 by meanslof la securing screw;` 761i' threadedrinta laterally/1JprojectingLr portion 71f-of` -thearmg asis-'shown most clearlylin Fig'res 5 andrf'i andJtlie'ar-mifl also carries a;laterallyprojcting camming pin72f, the=pu`rposel;of Iwhich will'`be presentlyj4 apparentaf- The knifefbladeeis normally urgedV to av tape severingy position shown-in-"Figures/ Sfland-4l Gby tensione spring-j73 'secured 1bettveeneafree end portion of the/armiV Y 'land'aportionofthe-carriage plateg50 'l`h`e-ar1l1'rJ 67 alsoY-carries-a latching-hook--74 engageablewith'a hookedtl pawlmember 75 'mounted'Y on Athe' backside of' platejSS? which hasflbeenabroken 'awayfin `Figure-1v` to" show-'the location of-ithe-pawl. The reanend-of p awl 75ispivoted" at 76? tothe-mounting platejiSS and urged-by 'th'cf'sprngj Y 77into `latcljting engagement with the Vhook '74 to `holitheY severing blade assembly in its raised or-cockcdf-position" the blade *mounting-twill besnapped' by its spring 173. into IrlQrmal-l position' and'during-such` course `of moyement the; blade'j69' will-sever'the-,tapez' at: the Vertclfoar Yspliingj operation.` n y, Y 'Y n' T' effect proper timed""' release A off' the'Y knife 'bladej 50 assembly, the ,previously mentioned' tubular rod .4U/'isi' pyro;vv vided'with: plugsin Yeaclreud 'having aligne d1borestliionglr= i which isfslidablyv received a rod 78 Vhavingjt'sn lower" engl` prt'0je'ctingsirem i the-yupperfend Aof the -rodf 140, The pre-.1 Y

' viously mentioned latch release carrier Y43 is proviidechr Y withjafthreadedcarnzscrewl Sllwhich is threadedfthrough thefbightportion there'oi so'th'a't' the inner1Vendf-82-i's i6 egageableeaga'inst and@'depre'sses thelloop g 801 when the; carriagejl has been moved to 'the'leflt' in'Figurerl to'near-V tlie'endfothe'splicing operation: To'efct proper ot`"tl'1"efrelease operation; it'ris 'to .be notel'thatthe release 7'0 A acer-arnet Screw in .arliusted .P Qsitonrto Yassureengaaement.thereoff with the rod loop 80. J Y

The previously mcntionedicamrplate 14 is xed to the base by means of an YI V-shaped bracket 84 and this cam plate carries .a pair of anges 85 and 86 projecting laterally from the rear face of,tl1e. plate and defining a cam track 87' therebetween which is adapted to receive and guide the wartend;offaxlel64whichalsoiserves to carry i the parts-"areLinl-lthiskfpositin; the-center-of=gravity of the parts pivotingaboptrfaxisZSwillibe;located to the right of this axis and the Weight of the assembly will maintain the end of the axle 64 Within the crook 88. The purpose of the cam track is not only to guide the carriage lfso asfto applyitheaapeeatthe proper-2pointeonthev'twp sh'eetsvtrhich` are to Ssplicedg' but yalso to- `cooperatewith"t a cocking member 89 which`V eteets hmovernentfofJ theJV knifel blade 1 assemblyfrom it'snormal to- 4its cockedf' or latched' 'positionbythedownward 'and f orwardmovement` of# thewcarrliage;` The` -cocking-member isia; bell-crank 'leyerapivoted" intermediate'its* endsl by `suitable* pi'rr 90itof the;cameplateflland'ismormally urged by) spriiigjfltsor that-fthe cocki'ngnle'gztthereof is-upstanding-and its'stopf leg- 93 isina'honizontal positionrwithv itsendestingjupon When theepartsrare*inthis'positiongi as the' axle`6/4fis*` moveddownjthecam track 87;' the cocking pin'f72extend` ingelaterallyfrom the knife-blade assembly Willirst engage'the'upper edgeof' leg`93'of the cockingjlever. ,whenrl Y bly-is accomplished When'pin 72engages legr92andtilfsA itinto horizontal position.y Atthe end Vof'this tilting movement the hook 7'4will be vengaged with thefpavvl- 75"andfurtlrerjmovement'of the carriage Will"caus e the cocking'member'to pivot about its axis 90`to letjthe knife,

Y blade pin 72 ride pastthe leg 92, andas soongas the 72jh'rasv` disgjengaigeclthe leg'rj92,` the cookingy lever.willbtzv snappedbackto its normal'ppsition while ther'knite blade, assembly. retniills in. cockedPQSitiOn- Y Y sine the-knife.. bla-@assembly isimmettere@meertiV thev tape slig'ltlybeyond the terminal end of the Yter 1sio11 I foar arse-tinyA consistsnofeagshcet onstripzofrsprin metal :9,7 arranged iat-ta stamane* tessereV foetwstrnlv Qcauseadhesion'otltlefl Y d f ,iQilirtfmefiam-frangenti imposition d4 n the; *splicing.operation,...the-pressenV 15,15 rbvided The presseriogt itself-l.V

vof the bell-crank lever 105 which -in turn is pivoted by screw 106 to the cam plate 14. The previously mentioned member 26 which is atixed transversely to the lower end of the guide arm 12 carries a cam 107 which engages the bell-crank 105 and tilts it in such a direction as to tension the spring 103 and cause the presser foot 97 to move into engagement with the sheets to hold the same in place. When the carriage is swung back to its rest or ready position, the bell-crank 105 will pivot by its own weight to relax the spring 103 and permit the presser foot to move up fromy the table and tilt backward beyond the edge of the sheets 19 and 20 to permit the sheets to be readily placed in position, the cam 107 of course being moved out of engagement with the bellcrank 105 at this time.

It will be understood that, as the carriage 13 moves towards ,the end of its splicing movement, and before the blade assembly is tripped, the carriage tilts backwardly about the axis of roller 65 so that the spring finger 59 is elevated above the table and there is suicient clearance between the table and the end of this finger to permit blade 69 to cut the tape when the blade assembly is tripped. The blade cuts the tape at a point above the table, but continued movement of roller 65 over the table presses down the terminal end of the tape.

I claim:

1. A splicing machine comprising a table, means on the table for holding two sheets in edge-to-edge abutting relation, a carriage containing a supply of adhesive tape, means mounting said carriage for movement across said table parallel with the abutting edges of said sheets, a resilient applicator on said carriage for presenting the end of said adhesive tape in overlapping relation with the abutting edge portions of said sheets, a knife mounted on said carriage for cutting said tape, and means controlled by the movement of said carriage a predetermined distance over said table for raising said applicator from engagement with said sheets and ,for actuating said knife to sever said tape.

2. A splicing machine comprising a table, means on the table for holding two sheets in edge-to-edge abutting relation, a carriage containing a supply of adhesive tape, means mounting said carriage for movement across said table parallel with the abutting edges of said sheets, a resilient applicator on said carriage for feeding said adhesive tape into overlapping relation with the abutting edge portions of said sheets, a spring-activated knife mounted on said carriage for cutting said tape at the end of said applicator, a latch normally holding said knife in cocked position, means controlled by the movement of said carriage a predetermined distance over said table for raising said applicator from engagement with said sheets, and means controlled by further movement of said carriage for releasing said latch. 3. A splicing machine according to claim 2 and including means for guiding said carriage into correct position at the start of its movement across said table, and cocking means embodied in said guiding means for returning said knife to cocked position.

4. A splicing machine comprising a table, means on the table for holding two sheets in edge-to-edge abutting relation, a carriage containing a supply of adhesive tape, means mounting. said carriage for movement across said table parallel with the abutting edges of said sheets, an applicator on said carriage for feeding said adhesive tape into overlapping relation with the abutting edge portions o f said sheets, a spring-actuated knife mounted on said carriage for cutting said tape at the end ofthe applicator, a latch normally holding said knife in cocked position, means controlled by the movement of said carriage a predetermined distance over said table for tripping said latch, means for guiding said carriage into correct position at the start of its movement across said table, and cooking means embodied in said guiding means for returning said knife to cocked position.

5. A splicing machine comprising a table, means on said table for holding two sheets to be spliced in edge-toedge abutting relation, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said table, and a tape carrier, including a combined supporting and tape applying roller, pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm whereby said carrier may be moved from side to side across said table with said roller supporting the same in such movement and rolling over the abutting end edges of the sheets being spliced, said carrier also including means for holding a quantity of splicing tape and means for applying said tape to the sheets ahead of said roller, said means for holding the sheets on the table comprising two parallel rows of locating pins upstanding from the table and engageable through marginal holes along the edges of the sheets, the pins of one row being rigid with the table and the pins in the other row being pivotally mounted upon the table f or path of movement of said carrier.

6. A splicing machine comprising a table, means on said table for holding two sheets to be spliced in edge-toedge abutting relation, an arm pivoted at its lower end to said table, and a tape carrier, including a combined supporting and tape applying roller, pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm whereby said carrier may be moved from side to side across said table with said roller supporting the same in such movement and rolling over the abutting end edges of the sheets being spliced, said carrier also including means for holding a quantity of splicing tape, means for applying said tape to the sheets ahead of the roller, a knife for automatically severing said tape at the end of the splicing operation, said knife being movable between a cocked and a cutting position, spring means for snapping the knife from the cocked to the cutting position, and means for releasing said knife from its cocked position, the last mentioned means including a cam engageable with said arm to release the knife when said carriage has been moved across said table.

7. The splicing machine as defined in claim 6, and means fixed to said table adjacent the lower end of said arm for moving said knife to its cocked position during initial movement of the carriage in the splicing operation.

8. A splicing machine comprising a table, means on said table for holding two sheets to be spliced in edge-toedge abutting relation, anarm pivoted at its lower end to said table about an axis extending transverse to the abutting end edges of the sheets to be spliced, and a tape carrier, including a combined supporting and tape applying roller, pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm whereby said carrier may be moved from side to side across said table with said roller supporting the same in such movement and rolling over the abutting end edges of the sheets being spliced, said carrier also including means for holding a quantity of splicing tape and means for applying said tape to the sheets ahead of said roller.

9. The splicing machine defined in claim 5 including a presser foot for engaging upon adjacent marginal edge portions of the sheets to hold the same against said table as the tape is applied thereto.

10. A splicing machine comprising a table-like base having two parallel rows of opstanding pins mounted thereon for locating and holding two sheets of material in edge-to-edge abutting relation upon the base, an upstanding arm rotatably mounted at its lower end to said l7 base to one side of said rows of-pins and about an'axis substantially parallel thereto, 'a carri'agelpivotelzl to the upper end of said arm about an axis parallel to the axis about which the lower end of said arm is rotatable, a tape carrying reel rotatably mounted on said carriage, a pair of spring arms, fixed to the lower depending portion of said carriage and between which tape issued from said reel is fed for application to the sheets to bespliced, a tapepressing and carriage-supporting rollerrotatably carried by said carriage at the lowermost portionthereof for engaging across the abutting ends A'ofthe sheets to be spliced immediately'behind saidsprin'g armslforpressing down the strip of tape applied thereby andl for supporting said carriage for g'uidedmovem'ent 'acrossrsa'aid base, asevering knife arm pivotally mounted at one end to said carriage and having a knife bladeffixed to its free end with the path of movement of said knife blade descrribing an arc passing just beneath the lower free endsoflsaid spring arms Vfor severing the tape at that point, springmeansnormally urging said knife blade past its severing position,

means for latching the knife blade arm in a cocked position in opposition to said springmeans, and meansjfor re- K leasing said latch means to permit said blade to sever the tape, the last mentioned means beingrespnsiyle to the relative angularity between said carriage'and said arm to release the latch means nea'r the end vof the mbvement of said carriage as the splicing operation is com- Plefds s s l 11. The assembly as defined in 'clain 10 'wl`1`eein one row of said pins is 'fixed 'to the tablelandthekgthen of pins is pivotally mounted on the'table ifor T ngvemeqnt toward aud away from said one( row ofpilris,iand t he1je being spring means for normally ui'ging theA Jlastientioned row of pins away from the vfirst Vr'ov'vuso 1as to tensin the sheets in a direction parallel to the path of movement of saidcarriage. ,n n .V

12. The assembly as defined in claim 1 .11 includinga presser foot for engaging those marginal edge portions of the sheets nearest the lower 4end vof said arms to hld thesame against the table as the tape is applied thereto, said presser foot being pivotally mounted on said table and ounterbalanced tov swing away from the table, and a camxedto the Alower end of said ar-m and engageable withlnechanisn/i-` connected to said presser foot forurgingL the sametoward the table as said carriage is moved across lthe table during the initial stages of a splicing Operafiqns 13v. f1` he as semb ly as' defined in claim ll including a camzplate'fixed to s aid table in upstanding relation thereto adjacentthe Alower end of said arm but between such armandvtheufirst vrow of locating pins, said cam plate havingapair o'fparallel laterally extending flanges aixed theretoand defining aY cam track, said roller-being journaled upon an axle carried by said carriage with said axle having*ancxtencle'cllI portion engageable within said cam track during the initial movement of said carriage in the Y splicing operation and immediately prior to the initial application of tape to said sheets, said lathing means for the knife blade arm including a pawl pivoted to said carriage andvengageable lwith said arm when the same is urged to its ycocked position, a laterally 'extending pin fixed to said knife blade arm adjacent the free end Athereof and presented, when the knife blade arm is in its released positin, 'so asv topass over the .uppermost caml'track-dening ange fwlefn 'thelcarria'ge is moved inthe initial stage of the 'splicing o eration, and a camming :lever pivotally n ldunte'd on plate in the path tof movement of said 'anni 'pin 4andliav'ing spring means associated therewit'irtp oppose Ipivotal movement of the camming levier wherebyfto re'strainthe knife arm pin as the carriage isfnovedfto effect relativefrnovement between the knife blade 'and thecalr'lria'ge vconstraining the knife blade arm for l'rr'icein'e'nt into 'its latclie'd position.

flefer'enes in the file ofthispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,252 wiuiamson Feb. 27, 1917 of the abo've numbered patent requiring correction and 'that the U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTN Patent Nm 2g 827311)!1. William Rives Merch 18, 1958 it ie hereby certified that error appears .in the printed specification e said Lettere Patent should read as corrected below.

Gol-"mn 8, 21.5.11@v 9', for the Gleim reference numeral "ll" read. ml@ Signed e116. sealed Iizh day of June 1958 (SEAL) A'bfest:

KARL I'Zp XLME ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Conmissioner of Patents 

